Taking Care Of Yourself After A Heart Attack

A stethoscope and heart on the table.


The odds of getting cardiovascular disease in our 60’s are 77.5% for males (females are lower with 75.4% between the ages of 60-79), according to the American Heart Association.  Taking care of your heart means reducing obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, managing diabetes if you have it, and limiting alcohol.  Common symptoms of a heart attack are chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, feeling faint or weak, and pain in your jaw, neck, back, arms or shoulder.  You also need a good exercise regimen to stimulate blood flow.  “Even as little as a 5-10 percent decrease in your body weight can have a huge effect on your blood pressure and other risk factors,†Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, president of the American Heart Association, or AHA, told AARP Bulletin.

Negative Drug Interactions Can Happen Even With Over The Counter Drugs


Many people don’t realize it, but you can have a negative drug interaction even with over-the-counter drugs.  Ginkgo biloba and garlic can increase bleeding risks if you take anticlotting drugs.  And St. John’s wort can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin and certain statins, channel blockers and digoxin (AARP Bulletin June Issue, page 22).  Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase side effects of many medications, including certain statins, blood pressure and heart-rhythm drugs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Alcohol can increase drowsiness and raise the risks of overdoses when used with many drugs for anxiety, seizures or depression, according to the National Institutes of Health.  Talk to your doctor about these issues!